The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-08-30
sHAKEsPEARE OR BACON

The public had been informed for a
long time that lgnatius DOnnelly had
studied out that theory further than any
other man, and Donnelly's book has been
awaited with deep interest. Having
known Mr.. Donnelly wei! and heard his
plan fully outlined, we can say that it is
enough to shake the most religious lover
Of Shakespeare in the identity OF the au-
thorship. The Baconian cipher pretends
to prove that in the plays there is in the
edition Of 1923 an arbitrary numbering of
the pages, that with a system of arbitrary
use Of italics and hypnens, reveals the
cipher for which there are a certain num-
Der Of rules.
The old theories Of shakespeare igno-
rance and dissipation amount to nothing
in the advanced positions that Mr.. Don
nelly takes. He reviews the other argu-
ments and has certainly gone far beyond
any one else.
The following is al abstract Of the
secret history of Elizabeth taken from
the plays by means Of the cipher:
EXTRAORDINARY CIPHER NARRATIVE.
r. e second part Of the Demonstration
contains the Cipher Narrative. And a
more curious narrative was never told.
Ii is neither brief nor vague, but long and
almost painfully minute. The style is
robust and terse, like that Of the best
Elizabethan writers. 1t is what the Ger
mans cali derb. The story, as far as deve-
Hoped by Mr.. Donnelly, reads almost like
one Of "Plutarch's Lives in Lord North's
translation. 1t consists of twenty five
chapters, of which the headings are as
follows:
Chapter 1.-The reasonable Plan of
Richard H., published by Richard Field.
1.-THE REASONABLE History of Henry
", written by DR.. Hayward.
llI.-RObert Cecils suspicious aroused.
lV.-Hayward brought before the
Queen.
V.-Cecil declares Shakespeare to be
but a mask for Bacon.
Vito prove it he tells the story of
Sbskespeare's youth, Of his robbery Of
Sir Thomas Lucy's Park, and the de-
struction of his fish pond.
Willie describes S~hakespeare's APP
pearance when he first came to London
and declares him incapable Of writing
the plays.
Willie asserts the purpose Of the
historical plays to be to dignity rebellion
and encourage treason in the interest of
the Scotch King.
IX.-On hearing this the Queen rises
up, beats Hayward with her cruich and
kills him.
X.-The Queen defends Bacon and re-
Dukes Cecil. She sends out posts TO find
Shakespeare, with orders to arrest him
the old charge Of robbery and put him
to the torture if he will not tell the au-
thor Of the plays.
NI.-The Earl Essen sends Umfrey-
vile to st. Adams to warn Bacon 10 fly.
He oyertakes Harry Percy.
NII.-Bacon hears the dreadful news.
His brother Anthony urges him to 90 to
the Continent. The discussion between
the brothers.
XIIL-Bacon overwhelmed with the
horrors of his position.
XIV.-He resolves on suicide and takes
-atsbane.
KYLE falls in the orchard, cutting
lis head on the stones he is found and
into the house.
Willis mothers grief and rage. lie
,ounterfeits death to give the poison time
10 work. His family thinks he has been
slain in a duel, or been assaulted by rob
Ders. His stomach rejects the arsenic.
XNIl-The %loquacious village doctor;
bis treatment of the case. He p%rOnOunCes
L an apoplectic fit caused by over-study.
XVllL-Anthony learns hat Shake
'peare is not with the players, but sick at
STAFFORD.
X1X.-Pcrcy is sent to Stratford on a
wifi horse to urge Shakespeare to fly the
XX.-The sick Shakespeare at STRAIT
ord.
XXI.-Shakespeare's beautiful daugh-
er.
XXII-the supper at stratfold.
XNIlI.-Percy tells Shakespeare the
news and urges him to fly.
XNlV.-The uproar in the family
he brawl.
XXN.-Shakespeare decides to fly.
QUEEN BEss As AN ILL-TEMPERED JADE.
Here is a portion of chapter tx, con
the story Of the Queens treat
mcnt of Hayward, the writer Of the
REASONABLE History of Henry ": "Her
was in a fearful passion, and rising
mp, struck your poor friend with the steel
end of her bIg, heavy crutch. The poor
wretch took to bis heels but the i'll
tempered old jade followed him, striking
again and again on the head and sides
Of his body. His health was not good
his limbs were weakened with a fever he
had had. His joints gave way under him,
and he fell 10 the earth. She doth be-
stride him and takes him by the beard,
and, bending down, beats him till the
stick breaks Such Is the pleasant pic
ture which the cipher narrative gives
Us of Elizabeth. Other pats ofthe mar
ratiye are equally graphic. The chief act
)rs in il are Bacon, Shakespeare, Robert
Cecil and Harry Percy. The low ,degrad-
ed character Of Shah espeare comes out in
al its details. When Cecil communi-
,ates to the Queen his suspicious regard
author of the plays, and the Queen
20 believe him, orders Shake
'peare's arrest, Bacon sends the faithful
Harry Percy TO Stratford TO warn Shaks-
)eaIetO flee the country. This gives An